12 November, 2008

My old company sells an amazingly comfortable kayak seat that I'd named the "Happy Bottom Pad". I was so tickled by that name that when I sold the company I reserved the right to use it in future. But my plans for a VO Happy Bottom Saddle have come to naught. My staff thinks the name is too stupid and I've been talked out of it.

Nonetheless, these are very very comfortable saddles. At 205mm they are wide enough for even the most ample of bottoms and absolutely luxurious for the svelte behind. They are sprung so one's stately composure is not compromised by even the most potholed of lanes. Of course these are saddles for sitting upright on a proper city bike with high handlebars, not for racing about. As for their weight, well that's a bit like money, not something we talk about in polite society.

There are actually two different models. The black ones are Model 7 and have the skirts folded in and riveted to prevent splaying. The Model 8 saddles are brown and have an old-fashioned tie to rein in the skirts. We'll see which system our customers prefer. Otherwise they are identical.

As with our other saddles, they are made from the finest Australian cow hide with an anti-stretch layer laminated underneath. The frames are chrome plated steel. Bag loops are standard and tension adjustment is via the included Allen wrench. At $85 they are not an unreasonable indulgence.

These appear to have 2 too few rivets on the cantle. Any reason for that? Fewer rivets lead to the saddle losing shape earlier as the load is concentrated at fewer points. The 6 rivet system was finalized long ago to prevent this.

I'm assuming it's either China or Taiwan. Personally I'd rather pay the extra $20 or so for the quality assured by a 142-year company history and first-world manufacture(where employees have rights, benefits, the ability to unionize, etc).

That's just me, and maybe these are made in Japan, or elsewhere without such dubious quality and human rights concerns.

Last time I checked, Chris DOES sell the saddles made by the 142 year old company that manufactors in a first world country. I don't thinks its about that. I love English craftsmanship as much as the next guy, but a little choice is nice. And people in Taiwan need jobs too. Now if only the VO saddle came in honey brown...

Yeah, I read Mr. Dickens' latest report in the Daily Mail. Conditions are horrible in the leather tanneries. Starving eight-year-old children work twelve-hour days. But I think we'll see improvements in 1835.

Working conditions in Taiwan factories are pretty damn good. A lot better than the factories I grew up around when I was younger, here in the good ol USA.

Organizing union workplaces in the US is no easy task. Look at Walmart as an example. or Trek. Yeah- Trek. That's a union free factory. Dick Burke said if Trek even had to think about unions in his workplace, he'd shut it down. Hates em. His son is no friendlier towards unions than his dad was.

Taiwan is a completely different environment for workers than China. In China, they are fed, housed and clothed as well as getting paid a wage. In Taiwan, they no longer build dorms or provide food or clothing for their unionized workers. Most workers in most factories are paid a pretty decent working class/middle class wage for the skills they provide.

I guess Velo Orange can source stuff from the good ol USA, but quality would suffer, lead times would go up, and prices would go through the roof. ppl complain about the high price of a $175 stainless porteur rack and demand a cheaper one, but at the same time expect it to be built in the US?

Imagine what a quill or CNC platform pedal would cost if it were made in the states? maybe $110 for a speedplay (if it's even made in the states - they may use the Maquiladoras just across the San Diego/TJ border), like Spinergy does.

The White pedals have no retail price and are basically vaporware, but would prolly sell for $175. Also a union free shop.

Try to contract with Wald to fabricate a nice alloy tourist handlebar. Can't be done at any price or volume. If you want a decent shape that is symmetrical, then your QC standards are unrealistic.

Seems to me, if you want union labor you need to go global and buy from Wellgo, MKS, etc.

Last I 'eard Brooks employees are a bunch of over worked underpaid yorkshire nobs and chavs 'oo are werkin slavelike an fed moldy bread and forced ter work durin' coronation street and are only let out of the bleedin' factory ter collect Tesco 2p bangers and brown sauce once a fortnight.

Workin' conditions in Taiwan factories are pretty damn good. A bit better than the factories I grew up 'round wen I were yunger, here in the good ol USA. Organizin' union workplaces in the US is no easy task. 'Ave a look at Walmart as an example. or Trek. Yeah- Trek. That's a union free factory. Dick Burke said if Trek even 'ad ter ffink about unions in 'is workplace, right, he'd shut it dahn. Hates em. His son is no matelier towards unions than 'is dad were. Taiwan is a completely different environment for workers than China. In China, right, they are fed, right, housed and cloffed as well as copping paid a wage. In Taiwan, right, they no longer build dorms or provide food or clobugger for their unionized workers. Most workers in most factories are paid a pretty decent workin' class/middle class wage for the bloomin' skills they provide. I guess Velo Orange can source stuff from the good ol USA, but quality would suffer, lead times would go up, and prices would go frough the roof. ppl complain about the high price of a $175 stainless porteur rack and demand a cheaper one, but at the same time expect it ter be built in the US? Imagine wot a quill or CNC platform pedal would cost if it were made in the states? maybe $110 for a speedplay (if it's even made in the states - they may use the Maquiladoras just across the bleedin' San Diego/TJ border), like Spinergy does. The Wite pedals 'ave no retail price and are basically vaporware, but would prolly sell for $175. Right. Also a union free shop. Try ter contract wiv Wald ter fabricate a nice alloy tourist 'andlebar. Can't be done at any price or volume. If yer want a decent shape that is symmetrical, ffen yor QC standards are unrealistic. Seems ter me, if yer want union labor yer need ter go global and buy from Wellgo, MKS, etc.

I'm not sure of the specific conditions of the hide cattle our leather comes from, but in general it seems like Australian hide cattle (cows, oxen, goats, etc) are usually free range. This is a different industry than cattle for meat production. They are not penned in or grain fed until they are rounded up for a one way ticket to the disassembly lines (....) .

Sorry for the grisly portrait, but that's cattle hide production, even British Brooks saddle and mudflap leather.

I really like that the springs are chrome plated. I am trying to match saddles on a tandem and want springs for stoker and straight rails for captain. Can't match rails w/ a team pro with a champion flyer s. Can I get a matched set with a pair of happy bottoms 1 sprung, 1 not?